Miscarriage/Pregnancy Loss

Penn OB GYN on Walnut Street - have backup care in place

I had a miscarriage three years ago, and it’s taken me that long to write this. I advise women who go here to have backup healthcare plans in case of miscarriage. Dr. Jennifer Nizen, my PCP at the time, confirmed my pregnancy. I made an appointment with Penn OB/GYN, located down the hall. At the appointment, they confirmed the pregnancy and took an ultrasound of my 6-week-old baby. I had a follow-up appointment lined up with them. The next day, I started bleeding and called Penn OB/GYN and told them what was going on. They had me get another ultrasound at another location and confirmed I was miscarrying. When I called to confirm my upcoming appointment, I was told my appointment had been canceled. I asked why, and they said it was because I wasn't pregnant anymore. I made another appointment, and that was canceled too. The administrator said my appointment was canceled because I wasn't pregnant. I said I understood, but the baby is still in me, so I'm not entirely "not" pregnant. Then she said they "didn't have a code for that." I asked, "You don't have a code for a miscarriage?" I said I was still bleeding, and I wanted to be examined. They refused to see me because they didn't have a code for my "condition." I called Dr. Nizen. Her office refused to see me and told me to go to Penn OB/GYN. I said they wouldn't see me because I was miscarrying. Her office told me they couldn't see me either. After a week of bleeding and being unable to find care, I started bleeding out. Thank God my husband was there to take me to the ER. It took almost 2 hours to stabilize me so I could be examined and have the baby removed. I was stuck just outside my cervix, causing excruciating pain and hemorrhaging. It's traumatizing enough to lose a baby, but to have the healthcare system turn me away was dehumanizing. Despite having a top-level Independence Blue Cross healthcare plan through Penn, I could not get care. Ladies and your partners, I hope you have backup health care in case of miscarriage. My husband was devastated by the loss of our baby, and he was terrified he was going to lose me that week, too. As a Fortune 500 company executive, he is well-spoken, resourceful, and highly skilled at bringing people together to make things work. He couldn't make this work for me and felt utterly helpless. We are both professionals, highly resourceful, and take self-care seriously. We were and still are appalled at the lack of care for something Mother Nature decided to do. Shame on you, Penn OB/GYN. Thank you to Chester County ER for taking care of me when I was bleeding out after 7 days of miscarrying. And thank you to the nurse midwives who called me off the books to check in on me.
This is the pro forma response I received from Penn OB/GYN after posting on Yelp:
Good Morning Megan,
We would like to reach out to you directly about your experience. Please provide the following information:
First and Last Name:
Date of Birth:
Phone Number:
E-mail Address:
Once received, a member of our team will contact you as soon as possible.
We send our deepest sympathies to you and your loved ones at this difficult time.
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